A rare thyroid malignancy with diverse management options: Primary thyroid lymphoma

Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare thyroid neoplasm. Histopathological evaluation supplemented by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the gold standard for diagnosis. The management differs substantially from that of other thyroid malignancies. We report a case of PTL (Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma) in a 75-year-old female who presented with painless progressive neck swelling of one-year duration with compressive symptoms. Fine needle aspiration cytology was suspicious of thyroid lymphoma. Histopathology and IHC of trucut biopsy confirmed thyroid lymphoma of B-cell origin (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma). The positron emission tomography scan revealed avid uptake confined to the thyroid region alone, with no other uptake elsewhere. The patient was treated primarily with external beam radiotherapy and showed significant improvement. Early diagnosis of PTL is crucial, as it directly impacts management, which differs from other thyroid malignancies.